Paper-clip.



l. L. WASHBURNE.

PAPER CLIP.

APPLICATION HLED Nov. 6, 1915.

1,242,652@ Patented oet. 9 1917.

/H/ L 'n lmmm JOHN L, WASHBURNE, 0F WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT.

Parnu-CLIP.

vSpecification of Letters Patent.

'Patented oet. 9, 1917.

Application led November 6, 1915. Serial No. 59,903.

To all whom z' may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN L. WASHBURNE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Waterbury, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Paper-Clips, of' which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to paper fasteners, of that classl 'which are designed to be secured in position so as to hold several sheets of paper :together by means of the pressure exerted thereon by the thumb andA finger of the operator. The present device is novel and simple in construction, and when in position on a bunch of papers has a neat and attractive appearance. These and other advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the following specilication, rleference being, had to the drawings accompanying the same, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of my invention as it appears when formed from a strip of sheet metal. Fig. 2 is a face view` thereof when bent into operative position. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on the broken line of Fig. 2.

My device comprises a pair of plates 1- and 2 integrally united and formed of thin sheet metal, as is now well known in the art. The plates 1 and 2 are separated by recesses 3, at which points the metal is bent to bring the' plates into proximity with each other, as in Fig. 3.

Near one end of the plate 1 is formed a point 4, by striking a portion of .the material at right angles to said plate, and the plate 2 is provided with a corresponding opening 5, into which the point 4 enters when such plates are brought into proximity. The plate 2 is provided on its outer face with a U-shaped rib 6, the curved portion of which partially encircles the opening 5 at a little distance therefrom. The rib 6 strengthens the plate 2, forms la rest for the thumb of the operator to prevent the point 4 from piercing the same, and adds to the appearance of the clip. It also furnishes an obstruction to prevent the thumb of the operator slipping when forcing the teners on other packages and interfere. with the removal thereof.

By forming the recesses 3 in the edges of the metal the strength thereof is suflicien'tly reduced to insure the bending of the fastener at lthat point. The strength of the material is not reduced, however to'such an extent as it would be by cutting outa part of the central portion of the fastener, and such clip can be opened and closed a number of times without the plates being broken apart. If desired, the plate 1 may be provided on its outer face with a raised portion similar to the rib 6, which would assist in grasping the clip to secure it in position.

It will be seen that the inner faces of the plates 1 and 2 are plain and entirely free from obstruction, whereby the same can be .made tohold a maximum number of sheets of paper or other articles, said plates grasping the same tightly and assisting to hold the same in place on the hook 4.

In forcingthe point 4 toward the plate 2, with a -number of sheets of paper between, an outward pressure is exerted upon the end of the plate 2, the pressure of the thumb on the outside of such platev having a tendency to bend it between the end thereof and the bend in the fastener, interfering with the point piercing the papers and becoming seated in the opening 5. Any such bending of the plate 2 is prevented in my device by the rib 6, which strengthens such plate throughout the length thereof.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

A device of the class described, comprising a pair of plates integrally united and bendable at the point of union thereof, one of said plates being provided with a point projecting inwardly therefrom, and the other plate having an opening adapted to receive the same; and e U-sliaped iib peitially encircling seid opening on the outer face of said last-named plates, the ends of said rib extending nearly to a central point of said device and sloping gradually toward said pleite,

lln eestimony whereof ll ax my signeture in presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN L. WASHBURNE. Witnesses:

RETA C. CARD, RALPH W. HURLBUT. 

